Confident Robertson back starting again for Tigers

AP File PhotoDetroit Tigers reliever Nate Robertson, right, talks with catcher Brandon Inge before being pulled from the Tigers' game Aug. 30 with the Kansas City Royals. Robertson will return to the starting rotation tonight against the Oakland A's.

DETROIT -- Nate Robertson is much more confident after having a chance to step back and look at what wasn't working for him -- mainly his slider.

Robertson said he discovered that he was overthinking on the mound after being removed from the rotation following an Aug. 20 start at Texas in which he gave up a club record-tying five homers.

He gets his first start since then tonight against Oakland.

Robertson has pitched three times in relief, getting both batters he faced in the first outing and then giving up six runs in 1 1/3 innings Aug. 30 against Kansas City. It was during that shelling that pitching coach Chuck Hernandez noticed something that has helped.

"I threw a couple good sliders and then I threw one that wasn't so tight," Robertson said. "Chuck saw a reaction there. I was a little frustrated.

"What it came down to is thinking a little too much on the mound. You can become your own competition out there. I know what it takes to execute a pitch, and you are going to miss pitches. But it's the conviction behind every pitch and trusting your stuff that you need."

Robertson used that lesson Thursday in facing the Angels, and gave up one run on two hits in three innings. Torii Hunter hit a solo homer on a high fastball, but he was satisfied with the bite on his slider.

"It's such a mental thing," said Robertson, who was 7-10 with a 6.09 ERA as a starter. "When you feel like you are lost, you are thinking a lot. With a clear mind, you go back to the basics and just throw. It's about just pitching and believing in what I'm doing."

Detroit manager Jim Leyland said that Robertson, who has not started in three weeks, would not be on a specific pitch count.

"Chuck and him have been working on some things and we'll see if he takes it to the mound," Leyland said.

Garcia, Willis update
Freddy Garcia and Dontrelle Willis both threw between 75 and 80 pitches Monday afternoon in a simulated game. Leyland said Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski will determine if Garcia is ready to pitch in a regular game, and was not sure when Willis will make his first appearance for the Tigers since June 9.

Garcia's fastball was in the 85-87 mph range, which is where it was when he went 17-9 for the 2006 Chicago White Sox. He had rotator cuff and labrum surgery on his right shoulder one year ago, and was asked how he feels now compared to 2006.

"Better and stronger," Garcia said. "It's my fourth time pitching and I can go 80 pitches.

"If I have to go slow, I will go slow. If I don't pitch, I don't pitch. But it would be nice if I pitched. If not, I will just keep working."

Guillen may return soon
Third baseman Carlos Guillen (back) did some running and throwing during the weekend in Detroit and took swings Monday night. Leyland was hoping he could be back in time for Friday night's game at Chicago with the White Sox.